‘I Didn’t Agree With It’ — Deshaun Watson Makes Feelings Clear on His ‘Character’ Impacting Browns’ QB1 Battle With Shedeur Sanders

Abhilasha Aditi Fri, October 2, 2026 at 5:07 AM UTC

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns’ quarterback competition brought plenty of scrutiny to Deshaun Watson, especially with Shedeur Sanders pushing for a chance behind him.

Watson understood why his play was being questioned, but for him, things changed when the criticism moved away from football.

Deshaun Watson Addresses Character Criticism During Battle With Shedeur Sanders

Watson discussed the scrutiny surrounding his position with Taylor Rooks on the NFL on Prime Video broadcast ahead of the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, acknowledging that the uncertainty around his starting role was difficult to ignore.

He said he was aware of the criticism but believed some of it went too far when it became personal.

“Of course. You know, I’m human, so I definitely feel that,” Watson said when Rooks asked whether he felt his quarterback status was under scrutiny.

Watson then made his main distinction. “I understood some of it, but a lot of it, especially when it becomes more character, that’s where I didn’t agree with it.

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“But if you can talk about performance and things like that, of course,” Watson said. “Because I felt like the last couple of years I wanted to play and play better, and it just didn’t happen that way.”

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The comments came against the backdrop of a quarterback competition that received considerable attention throughout training camp. Sanders made his case with an efficient preseason, while Watson had to deal with questions about whether his performance would be enough to keep the starting job.

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Head coach Todd Monken ultimately chose Watson as QB1 for Week 1, leaving Sanders as the primary backup. Watson’s position became more secure after Cleveland followed an opening-week loss with wins over Tampa Bay and Carolina. Sanders saw only limited action, including one pass attempt during the Week 3 victory over Carolina.

Watson entered the season carrying significant expectations after missing much of 2025 while recovering from a torn Achilles. Through the first three games, he had 587 passing yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, helping the Browns move to 2-1.

The situation also changed the way Sanders’ preseason momentum translated into the regular season. Despite the attention surrounding the younger quarterback, Cleveland continued with Watson under center rather than turning the job over to Sanders.

That leaves Watson, who ranks 24th in PFN NFL QB Impact, with the role he wanted while Sanders waits for another opportunity.

So, for Watson, the ongoing discussion is not simply about who should start. His comments made it clear that he accepts questions about what happens on the field but does not view judgments about his character in the same way.

He appeared to silence critics of his on-field mettle in Week 4, helping script a 27-24 win over the Steelers on Thursday Night Football. That win in primetime means Cleveland has started a season 3-1 for the first time since 2021.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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Source: “AOL Sports”